February 17, 2025 // Optional Memorial of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites, religious
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Mark 8:11-13
Reflect on the Word //
It had been several months of wrestling interiorly about how I was ever going to bring my capstone project to completion, let alone actually dream of fully implementing it. For years, I had dreamt about developing a Catholic adoption consulting agency so that I could support families throughout the journey of adoption. I wanted this to be my mission field. As I neared the end of my studies, I just kept asking God for a sign that this really was the direction He wanted me to go.
I had convinced myself that a sign from Jesus would be the only thing I needed to launch me into this mission—my sign. And like Jesus did with the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, He seemed to sigh “from the depth of his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation’” (Mark 8:12).
Too often, we don’t see Jesus for Who He is, the One Who brings us into a life that makes sense, a life that is grounded in the love of God for all people. When we let Him work in us, then we become signs of Who Jesus was and is and will be forever.
The Gospel ends with Jesus getting into a boat and heading across the water. He walks away. He doesn’t argue and wrestle to convince anyone to trust Him, believe in Him, or follow Him. The door is wide open. The welcome is warm. But Jesus doesn’t force us to follow Him. He doesn’t force us to see what we are blind to, or hear what we refuse to listen to. Jesus’ love is not, and will never be, coercive.
When we are tempted to seek only for a sign from the Lord, let us pray for clarity of heart to see Him as the sign. He is the answer to every next step, every discernment, every question. There is great joy in the comfort He brings.
Relate to the Lord // How might Jesus be the sign for what you’ve been looking or waiting for?
Mary Peach lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. She works remotely as a resource specialist for Regnum Christi after recently finishing her Master’s in Psychology. She was born in Ethiopia and adopted when she was eleven years old. Mary fell in love with the Lord as a deep and personal friend and made it her mission to help others encounter Him the same way she did. She loves to share her adoption story and healing journey in hopes to help others embrace their journey of healing as well.
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